The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a strongly worded statement expressing solidarity with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) following an incident at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 16 March 2026 in which a sitting judge reportedly ordered a lawyer to kneel in open court.
The statement dated 18 March 2026 and signed by ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde was released while he remains in exile after his own legal disputes in Uganda. In the address, the ULS condemned the alleged directive by Justice Mohammed Umar, describing it as an affront to the dignity of the legal profession across Africa.
“No judge possesses the lawful power to order a legal practitioner to kneel,” the statement read, endorsing the NBA’s earlier condemnation and warning against what it termed a broader culture of judicial overreach.
Ssemakadde also referenced his personal experience with Uganda’s judiciary, saying he was convicted in absentia in February 2025 on charges of “scandalising the judiciary” after refusing to kneel and apologise for public criticism of judicial conduct.
He claimed that subsequent appeals were obstructed and warrants issued, forcing him to shut down his legal practice and operate from outside the country.
“These actions aim to intimidate and isolate me and hinder my leadership of the national bar association. Without exile, I would be imprisoned,” he wrote.
The controversy in Abuja arose during the high-profile trial of activist Omoyele Sowore, who faces prosecution by Nigeria’s Department of State Services over remarks allegedly critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to court accounts, tensions escalated when defence counsel Marshal Abubakar sought a longer adjournment.
The judge allegedly ordered him to kneel as punishment for perceived contempt, a directive he reportedly refused, arguing that such an order had no basis in Nigerian law.
The matter was later adjourned to April 13, 2026.
NBA President Afam Osigwe subsequently issued a statement rejecting the legality of the alleged directive, emphasising that while judges have authority to maintain courtroom order, such powers must be exercised within established legal limits.
In its response, the ULS described the Abuja incident as part of what it views as a troubling pattern within some Commonwealth judiciaries, warning that humiliating courtroom practices undermine due process and discourage fearless advocacy.
The statement also outlined proposed reforms, including stronger alignment with international legal standards, mandatory courtroom cameras to enhance transparency, judicial ethics training focused on restraint and respect, and the creation of independent disciplinary commissions with representation from both the Bar and Bench.
Ssemakadde further called for the abolition of offences related to “scandalising the judiciary” across Commonwealth jurisdictions, arguing that such doctrines risk suppressing legitimate criticism and weakening accountability.
“ULS pledges to fight alongside the NBA and sister Bar Associations across the continent for an independent Bar that cannot be cowed and an accountable judiciary that serves the people,” the statement concluded.